JAKARTA (3 Feb 2012) – Persipura Jayapura received a boost this week when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the ISL 2011-2012 champions should be allowed into the AFC Champions League 2012.
In a ruling by a three-judge panel this week, the CAS provisionally granted Persipura’s appeal against the FA of Indonesia (PSSI) decision not to register them for Asia’s top club competition.
“Justice is done and it proves that we are going in the right direction,” said Thamrin Sagala, the secretary general of Persipura. “Now we’ll wait to see whether the AFC will let us play in the AFC Champions League playoffs.”
Persipura won the ISL 2010-2011 but the league was disbanded in the off-season by the new PSSI leadership. The PSSI then refused to register them for the AFC Champions League 2012 after the club turned down the chance to join the officially sanctioned Indonesian Premier League (IPL).
In response to Persipura’s complaint against the PSSI, AFC and Adelaide United, the CAS panel said in their ruling that ‘Persipura Jayapura have the right to participate in the 2012 AFC Champions League playoffs.” It gave those three until Monday to respond and provide any necessary evidence, with Persipura asked to reply by Tuesday.
With Persipura absent, Adelaide received direct entry into the Champions’ League group stage. Playoff ties are scheduled for 10 and 18 February.
Thamrin said Persipura have also asked for USD2 million in damages from the PSSI, but pointed out that ‘the most important thing for us is to play in the AFC Champions League.’
Persipura appealed to the CAS on 29 December 2012 after being left out of the Champions League draw.
“It was the AFC that banned Persipura (from the AFC Champions League),” responded PSSI chairman Djohar Arifin Husin. “The PSSI will be happy if Indonesia are represented in the competition.”
SOURCE: Jakarta Globe
